question on ref's hand signal

[Germanicus]

Why - after a successful lineout - does the ref hold his hand up for a few seconds towards the attacking side? what does this mean? thanks

 

[TRF_Olyy]

As far as I'm aware it's to signal who's in possession, much like how at a ruck he'll hold his arm out signalling who's got the ball/if there's a turnover etc.

 

[Germanicus]

yes that makes sense! thanks

 

[TrueSlawter]

Isnt it also to say when the lineout officially ends? as the #10 needs to be 10-15m away from the lineout till its "over" basically when the scrum half has / can play the ball

 

[TRF_woosaah]

yeah he is yelling "HOLD" to make sure all the players on the defensive line are back onside until the ball has been passed onto another player or the maul (if it turns into a maul) has moved a couple of metres (not sure how much). Once the ref deams the lineout is over he yells "Lineout over"

or something like that

 

[smartcooky]

He is indicating that the ball has not yet left the "Line-of-Touch". i.e. the line along which the ball is thrown, which runs from the 5m to the 15m line.

All players not participating in the line out (except the receiver from each team) must remain 10m back from the line of touch.

When the ball leaves the line of touch, the lineout is over

Law 19.9 BEGINNING AND ENDING A LINEOUT

(b) Lineout ends. The lineout ends when the ball or a player carrying it leaves the lineout. This includes the following:

When the ball is thrown, knocked or kicked out of the lineout, the lineout ends.
When the ball or a player carrying the ball moves into the area between the 5-metre line
and the touchline, the lineout ends.
When a lineout player hands the ball to a player who is peeling off, the lineout ends.
When the ball is thrown beyond the 15-metre line, or when a player takes or puts it beyond that line, the lineout ends.
When a ruck or maul develops in a lineout, and all the feet of all the players in the ruck or maul move beyond the line of touch, the lineout ends.

The referee should keep his arm up until such time as one or more of these things occur.